Lake Region Batters Spartans 15-3

May 20, 2012

WINOOSKIâ€“The Lake Region Lady Rangers used a balanced attack to dispose of Winooski Thursday in schoolgirl softball action, 15-3.
Nine different Rangers got hits, while LR scored in six of seven innings to back the 6-hit pitching of Michelle Thibeault.
The Rangers got things rolling right out of the gates, dropping three runs on the Spartans in the top of the first inning behind Callie Cashinâ€™s two-run double down the right field line. The Spartans came back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to make it a 3-2 ballgame, but after that it was all LR.
Sabrina Roberge and Alyssa Royer had RBI singles in the Rangersâ€™ 3-run second to extend their lead to 6-2. Whitney Poginy and Hannah Leroux each knocked in runs in the third to make it 8-2.
In the bottom of the third, the Rangers made the defensive play of the day. With the Spartanâ€™s Rebecca Spittle on second and two outs, Amanda Natress stroked a single to right. As Spittle tried to score, Cashin fielded the hit, found her cut-off Stephanie Merchant, who whirled and fired to catcher Corrina Cota, who applied the tag to nail the runner at the plate.
LR kept their foot on the throttle, plating three more in the fourth to salt the game away. Cashin walked and stole second, followed by a Sarah Burnham single. Merchantâ€™s sacrifice fly plated Cashin, and Whitney Poginy worked the count for the second of her three walks in the game. Burnham would score on a throwing error, and a Kaitlin Adamsâ€™ base knock brought Poginy home.
The Rangers would push five more runs across over the final three innings, while Thibeault got stingy on the mound, allowing just one hit after the 3rd inning to gain the victory.
Something rarely seen in high school softball, Cashin picked up her second outfield assist of the contest in the bottom of the sixth as she nailed Winooskiâ€™s Avah Eaton at second trying to stretch a single into a double. â€śNot too bad for a girl with a bad wing,â€ť said LR coach Matt Tinker, referencing Cashinâ€™s injured arm which will require surgery after the season.
â€śWe did what we needed to do. We still need to do a much, much better job on defense, but our offense and pitching was there today. We havenâ€™t put together a complete 7-innings at our full potential yet this year. Iâ€™m hoping that will come around by play-offs.â€ť
Leading the LR attack, Poginy turned a single and three walks into four stolen bases and four runs scored. Cota matched Poginy with a single and three walks of her own atop the Ranger batting order.
The Rangers improve to 5-8 on the season, and have a 3-game home stand to close the regular season, hosting Lyndon on Monday, Enosburg on Tuesday, and finishing with Richford on Thursday